Curated OER
Signs and Symbols
Sixth graders carefully analyze a triptych of the nativity, paying close attention to the lines, shapes and symbols included in the artwork. They explore the role of the Catholic church in society at the time the piece was created and...
Curated OER
Breaking the Chains, Rising Out of Circumstances
Discuss the history of slavery by analyzing historic photography depicting slavery. Learners write fictional stories based on these photographs. This is a creative and motivating way to launch a discussion of these topics.
The New York Times
Investigating the Heroin and Prescription Opioid Epidemic
How bad is the opioid crisis in America? Has it gotten worse in the last few decades? Why? High schoolers delve into these questions with a thorough and thoughtful activity from The New York Times on heroin prescription opioids....
Stanford University
Voices of the Struggle: The Continual Struggle for Equality
As part of a study of the Civil Rights Movement from 1868 to the present, class members examine first person narratives, the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, and other significant events in civil rights history....
Stanford University
Ruby Bridges
A two-part lesson features Civil Rights hero, Ruby Bridges. Part one focuses on the heroic actions of Ruby Bridges then challenges scholars to complete a Venn diagram in order to compare themselves to her. Part two begins with a...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign
The I-STOP law was designed to regulate the distribution and tracking of prescription drugs. After reading an article about its signing and implementation, middle and high schoolers work together to come up with their own ideas for an...
Curated OER
Celebrating Women: Toni Morrison
How authors address issues of their societies is addressed in this very detailed lesson. After researching Toni Morrison and her work, groups create a dramatization based on a scene from one of Morrison’s novels and act it out. Class...
National Gallery of Canada
Reading Symbols
Introduce your upper-elementary learners to printmaking. Class members view prints, select and research symbols in a piece, and create their own sets of prints using styrofoam trays. Pupils can wash off the paint on their trays to make...
Curated OER
Where Do Animals Come From?
Students use library search engines to research an animal and its origin. In this animal research instructional activity, students research their assigned animal using ProQuest. Students then find the country of origin of the animal...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Contributors to the Common Good
Students research historical figures whose contributions had a positive impact on humanity. Their charts include major events, contributions, and changes and are enhanced with drawings of monuments representing the person's life.
Curated OER
Exploring Heroism
Learners research heroism online. In this heroism lesson, students use the documentary of Heroes of Ground Zero to explore the theme of heroism. Learners complete five days of activities to research and participate in activities that...
Curated OER
Activity 10: Primary and Secondary Sources
Students sort documents into primary and secondary sources and analyze their reliability. In this history research lesson, the teacher gathers a selection of document images, then discusses primary and secondary sources and their benefits.
Curated OER
Digging Up Facts About Dinosaurs
Second graders conduct research on a given dinosaur using various resources, complete an information sheet that be used to create their graphic organizer from, and produce a graphic organizer, using the Kidspiration software.
Curated OER
The Three Gorges: Should Nature or Technology Reign?
Students examine the construction of the Three Gorges Dam in China. In this Three Gorges Dam instructional activity, students research Internet sources pertaining to the dam. Students discuss the geography and culture of East China as...
Curated OER
The Middle Ages: A Time of Conflict and Change
Students become familiar with the concepts of conflict and change and the relationship between them. They then analyze medieval social groupings to understand relationships among people and people groups.
Curated OER
Temperate Forests vs. Wetlands
Learners compare and contrast the temperate forest and wetlands by researching them in groups. In this forest lesson plan, students identify the economic, ecological, and social benefits of each.
Curated OER
Dawdle Duckling
Students read the book Dawdle Duckling and complete different activities about the book. Students research the wetlands, research ducks, complete an oil and water experiment, map a cove, and more.
Curated OER
Biomedical Imaging
Students use guided questions and research to compare two biomedical imaging methods. they effectively present their findings to the class. Students use new technical knowledge to summarize and compare new techniques with those they...
Curated OER
Marine Debris and Me
Young scholars study the environmental issues that pertain to the marine environment. In this research ocean landfills lesson students come up with alternative means of disposal.
Curated OER
Our Savage Planet in the News
Young scholars research volcanoes, storms, atmospheric conditions, etc., find information and collect facts, create a simulation of a science news broadcast, watch a video clip of an avalanche, and create an artistic rendering of one...
Curated OER
Who Owns Rights to Pharmacogenetic Information?
Students develop an understanding of the rationale of ownership over scientific information. They research commercial applications of DNA sequences. They analyze how to evaluate medical ethics issues.
Curated OER
The More Things Change...
Pupils participate in a mock town hall meeting after researching issues relating to fishing rights. After reading The Lorax, they discuss the importance of conserving natural resources. In partners, they write a story of their own...
Curated OER
What Are the Literary, Artistic, Scientific, and Technological Contributions of Immigrants to the United States?
Students evaluate impact of immigration on America's economy and culture, research information about people of various countries of origin, and share findings with classmates through collages, posters, handouts, or skits.
Curated OER
Energy: The US in Crisis?
Students research and assess past, present, and future decisions related to energy shortages by focusing on the California energy crisis as a case study. Students develop their own news articles about decisions that need to be made...